Chapter Twenty One Glory
I took my time putting the art supplies away, taking advantage of the break after my hectic class to think about Clayton and all the amazing things we had done in the past two weeks.
It was almost like I was living in a dream.
Being with Clayton was intoxicating, but he also had a way of putting me at ease.
I felt as if I had known him my entire life.
I hated to admit it, but I was on the verge of falling hopelessly in love with him.
He was kind and attentive and funny and interesting, and man was he attractive.
Seeing him shirtless had pretty much rocked my world.
Just thinking about it was making my mouth water.
I only wish that I had been able to stop rambling on about it like some kind of idiot.
I would have happily gotten lost in thoughts of Clayton for hours, but I needed to get back to work. I closed up the art studio and headed to the front to help Yvonne, but I was intercepted by Piper coming through the door.
“Glory! I wanted to stop by and make sure you’re still coming tonight. I haven’t seen you all week!”
“Yeah, I’ve been a little preoccupied,” I said, unable to keep myself from smiling.
Piper waggled her eyebrows. “Oh, I see. What’s his name?”
“Clayton.”
“He sounds hot.”
“Yes. Extremely.”
“Nice. So that’s who brought you home last night?”
“Yep.”
“I wanted to get up and talk to you, but I was so tired from spending the whole day helping my cousin finally move into her new place. She has so much stuff!”
I cocked my head to the side. “Was she still living in my old college apartment? The one that smelled like refried beans all the time?”
Piper laughed. “Yeah. She thought all the hot guys lived around there.”
“Hm, all the creepy guys, maybe.”
“Yeah. Too bad it took her seven years to figure that out.”
“Yikes. I’m glad she found a better place.”
“Anyway, you’re coming to the Rooftop Wanderers concert tonight, right?”
My eyes widened momentarily. I had forgotten about it, but since Clayton was busy, I was free.
“Of course I’m coming!” I exclaimed. “I’ve been looking forward to it! I get off in a couple hours, and then I’ll come home and get ready so we can go.”
Piper sighed in relief. “Good. It’s going to be awesome. I promise it’ll change your life.”
“Okay,” I laughed, amused at her enthusiasm. “I’ll see you tonight.”
I ran over to help Yvonne with a line of customers, and during a lull she glanced over at me.
“What are you smiling about?” She asked.
I shrugged. “Nothing. It’s just a beautiful day. Don’t you think it’s a beautiful day?”
She raised an eyebrow. “Please. I know you’re thinking about Mr. Hunkaliscious. How are things going with him?”
“Really great,” I replied, but at the same time, a few doubts crossed my mind.
“What’s with that face?” Yvonne said, reading me. “What’s wrong?”
I rubbed my forehead. “He’s leaving tomorrow, and he says he has something to tell me.”
Yvonne grunted in disapproval. “Uh oh. He’s probably married.”
“I don’t think that’s it,” I responded, although I couldn’t really be sure.
“Maybe he’s a secret government agent,” Yvonne mused.
“That would explain his incredible body.”
“Although, if he’s going to tell you that, he’s probably going to have to kill you.”
I rolled my eyes. “He’s not going to kill me.”
“Are you certain about that? What does he do for work?”
“I don’t know exactly. Something in entertainment.”
Yvonne gave me a patronizing look. “Glory, you’ve got to stop staring at those perfect pectorals and start getting to know the guy. He could be a con artist, or a murderer, or a carnival worker. I had you pegged as someone who was more sensible.”
I opened my mouth, but couldn’t form a response.
I was spared from trying to defend myself by another cluster of customers.
I mechanically filled orders, but Yvonne’s words had once again struck a nerve.
How much did I really know about Clayton?
He had talked a lot about his dreams and ideas, things he wanted to do and places he wanted to see, but whenever I had asked about his personal life he had said something vague and changed the subject.
I didn’t even know his last name! How had this happened?
Me, the girl who was wary of practically every guy I met was falling for a man I hardly knew.
Right then my phone beeped. I pulled it out of my pocket and saw I had a text from Clayton.
Glory, I can’t wait to see you tomorrow, and I seriously hope I will be seeing you for many days, weeks, months, and years to come.
Despite my recent misgivings, my heart melted a little and I felt myself relax. So I didn’t know every little detail about him, but there was time for that. It would all work out, right? My heart and my hormones desperately hoped so.
“Hey Glory,” Yvonne called from the other side of the counter, “Leanne just called and said she was going to be a little late. Could you cover for her until she gets here?”
“Sure,” I replied, “that should be fine.”
*****
I raced out of Monet Cafe and looked up the address for the concert on my phone.
Covering for Leanne had not been fine. A little late had turned into two and a half hours late.
I had called Piper and told her to go on to the theater without me and that I would meet her there.
I smelled like sandwiches and paint, but I was already 45 minutes late and I didn’t want to make myself even later by going home to change.
I found a place to park at the venue and then rushed inside. The space wasn’t very large, but it was packed. With some effort I found Piper in our seats near the back.
“Glory! Finally!” She exclaimed. “You’re here in time for my favorite song!”
I turned to focus on the band and saw...
Clayton? I blinked several times, trying to process the scene in front of me.
It made no sense, but it was Clayton front and center, playing the guitar and singing, and doing a fantastic job of it.
He had mentioned he played the guitar. Maybe this was the mysterious thing he needed to tell me, that he was in a band.
But why would he feel like he had to keep that from me?
I turned back to Piper. “Hey, I know that guy,” I yelled, trying to be heard over the music. “I met him two weeks ago...”
Piper’s eyes widened. “You met Collin Finlay?”
I stared back at her. “Wait, what?”
“Collin Finlay, the lead singer,” Piper yelled back, pointing to the stage. “You met him? I am so jealous!”
I felt as though someone had submerged my heart in a bucket of ice water. Collin Finlay, the boy I had written to for over ten years of my life. The boy I had fallen in love with. The boy who had broken my heart.
I felt sick. All at once everything made sense.
Now I knew why he had seemed so familiar, why he had been so ambiguous about his life.
I stared at him, wondering why he would do this to me.
I listened to the words he was singing and began to feel even more indignant.
Dreams of Mars under her mother’s desk? Loses herself in art?
Her life is a glorious mess? The song was about me.
I was so angry I was shaking. He had taken intimate, personal thoughts I had shared with him years ago and he was now crooning them out to the entire world. They finished the song and the crowd cheered, but I just stood there seething. I feel completely violated and betrayed, and I was done.
At that moment Collin looked straight at me. By the look on his face, I could tell that he knew that I knew.